Why Nigerian history should be documented – Author

Mr. Yemi Edun, the author of “The Number One Mission’’, a book on the contributions of Nigerians in the UK, says Nigerians should learn to document their history.

Edun said at the launch of the book on Thursday in Abuja that this was important “to tell the younger generation how we got to where we are today.”.

According to him, anything that is not written will cease to exist, and as such Nigerians should document the story of the country and the contributions of individuals to its development.

Supreme News reports that Edun also explained why he wrote the book that centred on the history of Nigerians in the United Kingdom (UK).

He said that it was to capture their contributions to the development of not only the UK but also their country of origin, Nigeria.

It was to celebrate Nigerians who made great history in that country, he added.

According to him, before the book project, his understanding of embassies was limited to applying for passports and visas.

He said that his perception changed when he began to interact with the former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, Amb. Sarafa Isola.

“Then I looked at the history between Nigeria and the UK, and I realised that our first High Commissioner in the UK was Chief Matthew Mbu, who holds the record of the youngest minister appointed before the age of 25, and first ambassador to the United States.

“The book is centred on the Nigerian High Commission in the UK, and as a real estate person, my work deals with locations and knowing areas.

“As I was gathering content for my personal use, I realised that Nigeria has a rich history in the UK to be celebrated.

“Nigeria has 22 buildings aside from companies and individuals that have personal properties in the UK,’’ he added.

Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, said that Edun has done Nigeria proud both at home and in the diaspora.

She appreciated his efforts in writing the book that documents Nigerians’ contributions both to Nigeria and the British economy.

“You’re playing a major role in the diaspora, and we appreciate you, we respect you, and we celebrate you.

“My message is this: no matter the challenges that we have, we’re going to overcome them.

“We have to overcome them united, stronger together, and we will survive as a country, no matter what we go through,” she added.

NAN reports that the vice presidential candidate for the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, bought a copy of the book for N250,000, while former Governor of Bayelsa, Sen. Henry Dickson, bought 20 copies for N2 million for his school’s library.

Dickson applauded the author for documenting the good things Nigerians have been doing in the UK.